STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1214

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 953

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 953, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and publish a website that includes the application processes for a permit, license, or reservation needed to conduct recreational and commercial activities in the State that are regulated by or under the jurisdiction of the Department;

(2) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convert existing application processes into a digital format to be used on the website; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the establishment of the website.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that many residents, visitors, and businesses have difficulty finding the correct applications required to use lands administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. This confusion can lead to a variety of illegal activities, such as trespass, illegal camping, and unauthorized commercial tour activities. Your Committee further finds that the current online process is labyrinthian, requiring an individual to navigate multiple links to find an appropriate Division and thereafter navigate through more links to find a correct application. Therefore, this measure provides for the creation of a website that will consolidate all necessary forms and application processes of the Department to help streamline the permitting process for the benefit of residents, visitors, and businesses alike.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 953, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair